Fishing Report for Week Ending August 20, 2017

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was HOT in Port Renfrew and GOOD from Sooke to Victoria. Oak Bay and Sidney were the SLOWEST areas to fish. The Pink salmon have been larger in size this year and the run is still building. Halibut fishing was FAIR early in the week.

Subject: FN0808-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Chinook & Coho - Region l - Non-tidal Stamp and Somass Rivers - Opening August 25, 2017 : Effective 00:01 hours August 25, 2017 the Somass and Stamp Rivers will open to recreational angling for chinook and coho salmon. The daily limit will be 4 salmon per day of which: Two (2) may be chinook of which only one (1) may be greater than 77 cm. in length, and Two (2) may be coho, marked or unmarked.

For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area:

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PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing was HOT for fish springs averaging 10-20 lbs with the occasional larger fish into the upper 20’s. Off shore there are lots of coho and pinks. Inshore, it’s been best from East Point to Camper Creek. Anchovies, cut plug herring and 6” Coyote spoons have been the most productive lures recently. Halibut fishing has also been GOOD.

The GIBBS DELTA Salmon Shootout was held this past weekend in Port Renfrew. The winning fish was a 27.4 lb spring caught by Mike Lukaitis. Second place went to Kevin McKenna for a 27.2 lb spring. Third place went to Carl Wilkinson with a 25.3 lb spring.

Mike Lukaitis (on the right) with his derby winning fish.

SOOKE– The salmon fishing was GOOD over most of last week. Springs are spread throughout the area so fish were coming in from all areas. Most anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. Fishing shallow and close to shore has been the key to catching the larger fish. The pink salmon fishing was best in the 400+ foot depths, and the pinks have been as large as 9 lbs. Good choices for teaser head colors are red, chartreuse and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Guide Series, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been caught some fish. Use small pink hootchies or spoons if targeting the pink salmon. Spoons have also been catching salmon. Coho Killers and Skinny G’s have been good in No Bananas and Outfitters colors.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. The springs are spread out from the Bedfords to the Trap Shack. Most of the springs are between 10 and 20 lbs in size, but some large ones were caught. Morgan Keith picked up a 33 lb spring inside the bay while trolling for pinks. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl and Chartreuse. The best color combinations for spoons have been Nickel/Blue, Outfitters and No Bananas. For flashers, the GIBBS Highliner Guide Series, Gold Fever Hot Spot and Big Shooter Gold Betsey have been working well. Anglers casting off the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina now has rental boats available.

PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports REALLY GOOD salmon fishing. All areas from Church Rock to William Head were producing lots of Chinook salmon. Trollers are doing best trolling from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger with anchovies for bait. Anchovies are now the most popular bait for trollers. Good teaser heads to fish have been the Bloody Nose, Chartreuse and Mint Pearl. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. The most popular spoons have been Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks needlefish and Coho Killers. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Hot Spot Gold Fever, GIBBS guide series and Big Shooter Gold Betsey. Jiggers were also doing well fishing near the kelp beds and in the Race.

HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well are the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD off the waterfront this past weekend for the first time this year. The most productive area was from Esquimalt to Holland Point. That said, there were salmon in other areas such as Clover Point, but few anglers fishing these other locations. Most of the salmon caught were chinooks running from 10 to 20 lbs in size. Some pink salmon are being caught as well and they have been from 4 to 9 lbs in size. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups with 3” AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons, Nickel/Blue Skinny G’s and Blue/Silver Coyotes good choices.

HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Earlier in the week, George Kahan landed a 131 cm, 74 lb halibut off Constance Bank, using salmon belly as bait. That’s the heaviest one so far this year and is now #1 on our leader board. The halibut have been very deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

Here are 14 year old Nicco from France, Peter Daniel and Grandson Gordon from Victoria and a nice afternoon's mixed bag catch from Constance Bank.

OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the flats and the Gap. Randy McEwen on Thursday caught an 11 pound wild spring salmon while trolling the Flats using bait. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, Deep Stingers and the Delta Mac Fish. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 70 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom.

HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend on the big. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.

Taylor Whally caught her first salmon ever, a nice 28 lb off the Pender Bluffs at 130 feet on a Gibbs Skinny G spoon.

SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. There have been a few fish coming from locations all around Sidney. We did hear that there were some large pink salmon off Pender Island at 90 feet and they were only hitting anchovies. There were also some springs running much deeper at 150-180 feet off Pender. Taylor Whally caught her first salmon ever, a nice 28 lb off the Pender Bluffs at 130 feet on a Gibbs Skinny G spoon. Anglers jigging were also catching springs. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most productive spoons this past week. Suggested colours are Trap Shack and Bon Chovy. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in UV Purple.

FRESHWATER

Angela Vu caught her first fish, a nice largemouth bass, on a topwater lure while on her first time ever fishing.

OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for bass. No changes from previous reports.

COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is at summer levels, just under 0.4 meters. Lots of people are now using float tubes to drift down the river during the day, so that can put the trout down. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD at dawn and dusk. Fish a Dry Fly in the early morning and later in the evening or fish a Nymph in the faster water. Both have been working well.

TROUT– Troutfishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island. Trollers should fish at the thermocline, where the fish are suspended during the day. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Pink, Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines most of the time to get into the cooler water levels. Trollers are catching trout with worms fished behind Gibbs Gang Trolls and on Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for trout.

BASS– Bass fishing is GOOD as we enter the summer months. There have been many reports of good catches of fish as large as 6 lbs. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style and crank baits are working well. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Top water plugs are also fun and effective in the summer, especially at dawn and dusk. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing.

Notable Catches – Angela Vu caught her first fish, a nice largemouth bass, on a topwater lure while on her first time f ever fishing.

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Take some binoculars fishing! You can use them to see what other successful anglers are using for bait, spot bait ball ups from a distance, or check for changes in the weather conditions by scanning the horizon. Or you can just enjoy the views or nature and make your day fishing more enjoyable.

Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon, Trout and Halibut Leader Boards. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st win a special prize.